Comments on the Finalist

The concept of “Design as Performance” is brought into full play in this work. The designs in this piece not only serve the script, but are deemed as part of the performance. The four stories matched with four designs are striking respectively. Better Life? revolves around true stories of four immigrants. The performance of the non-professional actors is handled brilliantly and appropriately with a balanced delivery and perfect precision. Therefore, the four stories are like a combo platter, bringing different yet harmonized flavors. Another remarkable feature of this work is the design of its viewing route. As the perspective of viewing changes, the four parts of the performance radiate an infectious power that does not stop at the stories (even though the stories are very moving already), but extend further to the audience’s experience of transnational movement and identity. (Commentator / WEI Wang-Jung)

Artwork Introduction

In Taiwan, there is a group of people from Vietnam. Speaking unskilled English and Mandarin, they have been trying hard to adapt to different jobs or families. To live a better life, they might choose to do high-risk manual works in Taiwan or decide to marry Taiwanese men. In Better Life?, Polymer DMT continues the “Identity Project” starting 2018 and expands the scope to discuss the topic of “ethnic groups,” inviting four Vietnamese new residents in Taoyuan to share their experiences and life journeys. The work is shown in two forms – an exhibition and a live performance. The spatial-temporal dimensions about the four new residents are recreated on the stage to represent important memories in their lives.

About the Artist

Polymer DMT was founded in Essen, Germany in 2011 and registered in Taichung, Taiwan in 2016. Concentrating on interdisciplinary creation and intercultural collaboration, the name “Polymer” symbolizes the characteristics of the dance company, which brings to mind the chemical compound. By treating dance (physical performance) as the creative subject and following the theme/direction of each project, the convener/artistic director of Polymer DMT, LO Fan-Yun, looks for artists from different fields and cultures who share the team’s interest and ideals to co-create their works. Adopting an “organic” approach to “polymerize,” the final presentation of each production unfurls in its unique way.